I love layering so it’s no wonder that I love fall and winter clothing. Then again, with dresses as pretty as the ones in this reviews set, maybe you’ll want to forego the layering altogether…
Note: For reference I am currently sitting at 34-29-38, size 6/M in sweaters, 6 in dresses and 29/30 or 8 in pants and skirts, 32DD. I am 5’8″.
Beautiful. The Brindille Sheath ($158) is just beautiful. Built upon a black base, the red-blue-gold-brown, this woven poly sheath has a perfect mix of pattern sizes and just enough release to work over this curvy gal’s hips. In the back there’s a concealed zip and also inside the dress is a zipper liner so there isn’t itchy metal against my back all day — score! From the online shots I thought the dress would be longer, but it just barely clears my fingertips. It passes the sit-down test, barely. The neckline is also wider than I expected — if you look at the bottom product shot online, where the model is wearing a red shirt underneath, the neckline of the red top is where I expected the neckline of the dress to run. I wanted more of a scoopneck; this is more of a boatneck. It widens my shoulders a little more than I’d like.
Still, I’m in love! The dress fits nicely, has pockets (!!!), and could easily be that workwear staple that I have to not wear too often because my coworkers will totally notice. Even though I’d want to wear it every day.
I’m in an 8 here, which is one size up from my usual 6. That is the size I’d buy, though it is also very tempting to go up to a 10 to see if that yields just a bit more length. My one complaint is that the waist is sitting too high; like many of Anthro’s dresses lately there’s little accommodation for breasts.
My plan is to buy this as part of my September budget. You can see a full-length shot of me in this dress via my Instagram.
The Paeonia Dress ($158) is a print Corey Lynn Calter has been playing around with since 2013, and I totally understand why. This teal floral is gorgeous! This latest version is your basic fit-and-flare, with a higher neckline for more mid-century appeal. It’s silk polyester and the pattern placement on every dress is different.
I was a big fan of where the flowers fell on the dress I tried, up along the neckline like a necklace. This also helped somewhat to balance out my larger bust. The waist hit me in the right spot which I like too. And the skirt fell perfectly. It grazed my knees. This dress is crying out for a belt.
Two things I am not sure about: the sleeve length and the neckline. I applaud a more demure neckline for the workday; I’m just not sure it works on me. And I much prefer elbow-length sleeves, which align with the waist, thus making it look even tinier, versus this length which magnifies the bust. I don’t need any more help in that department thank you!
So pretty but perhaps not for me. The original dress from 2013 worked way better on my frame. This print is available in another dress, but I hate the hemline on that one. More CLC please Anthro!
I’ve reached an odd kind of critical mass with my Anthropologie wardrobe where I’ve owned most of the shapes they go for at least once before. This rectangular shift of the Shaded Garden Dress ($148), for example, used to live in my closet as the similar Eleonora Flight Shift (2011).
This new dress is different in some ways — a lighter silk-like viscose and very cool side arm holes, and pockets! The sleeves are also longer…almost too long. But overall it’s the same wide scoop neckline and above-the-knee mod look. I think what I dislike most about this dress is the pattern placement. I can’t quite hit on why it bugs me but I do know that I very much dislike the white top and darker bottom. It feels heavy. And aging. The dress is a mini, hitting a couple of inches above my knees.
I’m in my usual size M here which was huge; I’d size down to a S to buy. But I will not be buying this dress. I like the ideas and the print, but the placement seriously irks me.
Everyone should have a little Oscar de la Renta in their closet, but not everyone can afford it. The Rose Garland Dress ($298) is a much more reachable option, though I know $300 is still quite a pretty penny. I instantly fell in love with this scuba fit-and-flare — and really, I never expected to say that!
The scuba has just a touch of compression to it which makes for a beautiful shape. Yes, the skirt poufs out but I think it’s still very young and fun, mostly thanks to the photo-realistic pattern which annoyingly has two vivid pink flowers cut off at the waist. (Really, Anthro? That seemed like the ideal placement?) The trail of flowers across the skirt is perfect; I’m less enamored with the placement on the bodice, which should be a bit higher to me. But that’s a quibble! This dress also has fit darts along the side and at the bust, hallelujah. The side seams however, are mismatched. Urgh. For $300 I want a little better than that!
I’d had trouble finding a good fit in Ms Fetherston’s pieces for Anthro previously, but this dress was amazing in my usual size 6. I passed by a woman in her early 20s rocking this dress for work in the tunnels below Rockefeller Center last week and I plan to do the same! Buying this dress, most likely this month.
The Cabled Colorblock Dress ($158) exemplifies why the 1970s is my least favorite fashion decade. Besides sternum-exposing deep v-necks, shapeless super flowy stuff, these t-boned sweater dresses are insta-dowdy on me. Do I look 60 in these photos or what?
Ugh. OK the dress. The skirt is actually a beautiful bias cable pattern. It has 6 cute snaps on each side, where I want the pockets to be. There are instead small hand-warmer pockets on the front (very hard to see even in real life). The top portion is a little short, it even hits above the model’s waist. And in the back there is a gaudy exposed gold zipper because of course there is.
I’m in my usual size 6 here which fit nicely and was the perfect knee-length. But truly this dress is a big old whatever to me. Old being the key word.
Byron Lars, I love you. You make dresses that hug my every curve perfectly. Although I wouldn’t call the Embroidered Brocade Dress ($268) youthful, at least not without some styling help, how can I not love a dress that hugs me everywhere and perfectly shows off the hourglass figure god gave me, which I love to death? In a world where fashion has become increasingly dysmorphic and toxic, it’s just so, so lovely to find a designer who embraces the shape that over 70% of the female population has. I even love that the online shots feature the Taite Heels, which I own and adore.
I have nothing bad to say about this dress. The details are amazing, from the 3D flowers on the side of the skirt to the bodice which has layer upon layer of cool detail. (You can see these well in the bottom detail shot on the product page.) There’s a zipper up the front (the designer chose to forego the cool looking but impossibly demanding million hook-and-eye closures on some of his other styles) and a belt around thee waist which has a simple hook closure. The back of the dress has a pattern completely different from the front and a lower scoop-shape.
Seriously, this dress fits like a dream. It is nipped in the waist with release in the pencil skirt, though not much release. I’m in an 8 here, one size up for me, and if I’m standing all night that’s perfect, but I’m likely going up again to a 10 so I can sit down and cross my legs without fear.
I’m swooning, and having a hard time choosing between this dress and the similar but brighter Pieced Brocade Dress ($268). Your thoughts, community?
I’m headed back to the store tomorrow — most likely Soho. What should I look for to try on? I have more reviews in the bank…
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